The King's Pet

"You can't lead a kingdom from a coffin."

Bruce had to remind himself of that every morning as he looked at the reflection in the mirror. The man staring back at him was different from the one who once led his army with an iron fist.

He'd given everything to this kingdom-his youth, his health, his very soul. He had fought through wars, endured assassination attempts, and never once faltered in his resolve to ensure that this land, his land, would rise from the ashes of chaos. The kingdom was now strong, prosperous even. But at what cost?

There was no legacy he could leave behind that could outrun the ticking of his own heart, or the reality of the years he'd spent as a king who had always put his kingdom first.

But then, amidst the endless cycles of political scheming and advisors with their useless advice, he had heard a rumor. Whispers in the royal court about a rare item being sold at auction-an exotic, legendary creature. A vampire bound by some strange enchantment that made him obedient to whoever controlled him. The auction house, a secretive and notorious establishment, held the key to unlocking the chains that bound him. A creature of immeasurable power, his bloodline said to run deep with ancient magic and untold strength.

-‐-

"You bought me," he said, his voice smooth, yet laced with something dangerous. "But you don't own me."

There was defiance in every word, every inch of his being.

Bruce stepped forward. "I didn't buy you to own you," he told him, his voice cold and steady, though his hands were clenched at his sides. "I bought you to set you free. You don't belong to them anymore."